Heat exchanger constructive arrangement

ABSTRACT

A heat exchanger constructive arrangement including a quadrangular based vertical vessel with inlet and output ducts and removable lid having heat exchange elements supported by parallel plates and vertically arranged in the form of a comb that interleave with existing baffles in the container, forming a chicane which forces the fluid to be heated to maintain contact with the entire surface of heat exchange.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present patent relates to the fabrication of a heat exchanger that enables quick and safe cleaning of its elements, especially in the petrochemical industry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Since their inception, in general, and particularly petrochemical industries, make use of a “shell and tube” type heat exchangers in their thermal processes.

The almost universal use of this well known type of heat exchanger, results in clogging problems caused by impurity that deposit inside the tubes. These deposits are inherent to the processes, particularly in petrochemicals.

The necessary periodic cleaning demands the heat exchanger be opened and have the tube bundle removed, an operation which inevitably exposes the operators and the environment to contamination.

After removal, the tube bundle is conveyed to a specific area to be cleaned. This, almost always manual operation is known as “buckling”. It is a dirty operation and time consuming.

To improve environmental conditions specifically and also reduce human exposure, the constructive arrangement herein consists of a vertical container quadrangular section provided with a lid cover which has a number of heat exchange elements arranged orthogonally in vertical plates, and comb interleaved format.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The container has inner separators that are interposed between the lid heat exchange elements forming a chicane (S-shaped turn).

The heat exchange elements receive the thermal process fluid (hot oil, steam, etc.) through an inlet collector and it is extracted by another output collector both located in the outer lid part.

The product enters the container on the one end of the chicane formed by the elements and the separator plates, being heated as it goes through, exiting from the opposite side.

During the cleaning, the lid is removed vertically over the container, draining the liquid directly into the container, avoiding any spillage and contamination. Once fully drained, the lid is brought to a closed cabin where water jets at high pressure, properly positioned to avoid any contact with operators, promote the cleaning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of the heat exchanger according to the present invention having the lid closed;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective front view of the lid of the heat exchanger according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective front view of the vessel of the heat exchanger according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1 take along line A-A; and

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 3 take along line B-B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Within the drawings we have on FIG. 1) the container (1) with lid (2) when closed. FIG. 2) shows the lid (2) removed from the container (1), this lid (2) features heat exchange elements (3) supported by plates (4) attached in any way, such as weld, forming an integral part of the lid.

The elements (3) receive the thermal fluid (hot oil, steam, for example) through the inlet collector (5) and exits through a collector output (6) thus, promoting proper circulation.

FIG. 3) shows the container (1) provided with baffles (7) which make up the chicane.

FIG. 4) shows section (AA) of the enclosed heat exchanger and the flow of the product to be heated entering the inlet duct (8) and out through the outlet duct (9) The arrows show the flow direction of product to be heated travelling through the chicane.

FIG. 5) shows section (BB) of the container with baffles (7). 

1. A heat exchanger constructive arrangement comprising: a quadrangular based vertical vessel having an inlet and an output ducts; a lid that has heat exchange elements arranged over flat parallel plates distributed vertically in the form of a comb; the heat exchange elements communicate with collectors external to the lid; baffles connected to the vessel, the baffles interleave with the heat exchange elements producing a chicane. 